Illuminating means for pianos or the like



Nov; 5,' 1940.

w. ZAISER ILLUMINATING MEANS FORPIANOS OR THE LIKE Filed April 21, 1957 -%ZZz az2?/ Zaser m ab flzz fagy.

Patented Nov. 5, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE William Zaiser, Rockville Centre, N. Y., assignor to The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, De Kalb, 111., a corporation of Ohio Application April 21, 1937, Serial No. 138,169

2 Claims.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a novel and artistic means for lighting the keyboard and music support of a piano or similar instrument so that, if desired, the instrument may be played in a darkened room without other illumination. The invention consists in certain features and elements of construction as herein shown and described and as indicated by the claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a piano with illuminatingmeans embodied therein in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a detail section taken as indicated at line 22 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical detail section taken longitudinally through the music-supporting panel.

Figure 4 is a detail section taken transversely of the panel, as indicated at line 4-4 on Figure 3.

The drawing illustrates a small vertical type of piano, but it may be understood that this invention is equally applicable to various styles, including the older form of upright and also the familiar grand piano. In any of these styles there is a music desk usually comprising a nearly upright rack or panel, as shown at l, against which the sheet music or book leans, and a ledge or panel upon which the edge of the music sheet or book is lodged. In accordance with the present invention the latter panel may be made of glass, as indicated at 2 in Figures 1, 3 and 4., and, preferably, this glass panel will have grooves or corrugations 2 in its upper surface for engaging the edges of the music sheets as they lean against the supporting rack or panel I. For the best appearance this glass should be etched, sandblasted or otherwise treated to render it translucent, but not transparent. Suificient light for reading the music is then provided by mounting under the translucent panel 2 one or more elec-- tric lamps 3 which are thus enclosed in the piano case so that their light escapes only by way of the panel 2. As indicated in Figure 3, the lamp 3 may be controlled by means of any suitable switch mechanism enclosed in the housing 4 and operable by means of the usual lever 5.

For additional illumination of the piano the end cheeks I may be hollow, and each of them may be fitted with a translucent, but, preferably, not transparent, panel II, with an electric lamp I2 enclosed in the hollow cheek I0. If desired, the lamp l2 may be located so that it shall not be directly back of the panel H but its light may be transmitted through the latter by way of a reflector l3 producing a better diffusion and a more satisfactory ornamental effect.

It may be understood that the lamps 3 and the lamps [2 may be all included in the same circuit for simultaneous control by the switch 5 so that .the lighting system may be switched on or ofi at will. If desired, an additional switch may be located, as indicated at M, with a spring-pressed button protruding slightly through the upper surface of the cheek ID at l 5, so that if the hinged lid 6 is closed without turning off the lights at the switch 4 this switch will automatically open the lighting circuit, but will never interfere with its operation when the piano lid is in open position.

By virtue of the illumination of the music sheets afforded through the translucent panel 2 and the illumination of the manual keys furnished through the translucent panels II in the cheeks Ill the pianist can readily play the piano in a darkened room without any other lighting. In addition to the convenience thus afforded, the illuminated areas and lights and shadows produced thereby will add interest and artisticbeauty to the instrument.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and re-arrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, instead of translucent panels, such as the glass members 2 and H shown in the drawing, I may substitute wooden or metal grilles or textile screens sufiiciently reticulated to transmit enough light from the lamps enclosed in the piano case. Or, for illuminating the keyboard, instead of providing separate lights in the cheeks of the piano case, I may form the vertical wall back of the keyboard with windows or openings so that the same lamp or lamps which illuminate the desk panel 2 will serve to light the keys. Thus the invention is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described, except insofar as indicated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a piano or like instrument including a keyboard and a case which terminates vertically below the eye level of a performer seated at the keyboard, said case having a hollow end wall adjacent the end of the keyboard, the panel of said hollow wall which is adjacent the keys having a translucent window therein and an electric lamp disposed within the hollow wall but not opposite said window, a mirror disposed within the hollow wall in inclined relation to the window and exposed toward the lamp for reflecting light therefrom through the window onto the keyboard.

2. In a piano or like instrument having a case and a keyboard, said case including cheeks at opposite ends of the keyboard terminating vertically below the eye level of a performer seated at the keyboard, each of said cheeks being hollow and each including a translucent window in the panel of the hollow wall adjacent the keyboard, together with electric lamps housed in said hollow cheeks in position to illuminate the keyboard through their translucent Walls respectively and without 5 creating a glare in the eyes of the performer.

WILLIAM ZAISER. 

